January

Santa Maria da Feira (North of Portugal)

Fogaceira Festivities – January 20

One of the oldest traditions in Portugal, remounting to the times of the black plague where the community honored Saint Sebastian the healer of the plague. Legend says that when the community broke tradition during 4 years, the plague returned. Since then the Festivities of Fogaceira have not had a interruption.

Faro, Luz de Tavira, Tavira, Loule, Moncarapacho and Olhao (Algarve region)

Charolas – Throughout January

Charolas“Charolas” are groups that form spontaneously and get together to sing about religious or secular themes. They are found a bit all over the Algarve. There are Charolas get-together and competitions that represent and maintain the various forms of the traditional Charolas songs of this region. It happens throughout the month of January.

Querenca (Algarve region)

Festa das Chouricas (sausages) – Last Saturday in January

This traditional festival is in honor of St. Luis, the patron saint of animals, and is commonly known as the “Festa das Chouriças” (Smoked Pork Sausages Festival). In keeping with a secular tradition, all the people of the village, many of who work in agriculture and depend on pork for their nourishment, make a promise to St. Luis when they are buying a pig that if the animal has a healthy life then they in return will offer the saint a “chouriça”. It is these “chouriças” that are auctioned off during the festival. This event also includes a procession and a roasted “chouriça” tasting.